At one point during this NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys looked to be a sure thing to win the NFC East division. The New York Giants started the year out 0-6 before winning their last three. The Washington Redskins could have even been considered in contention until today’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. With the victory today, the Eagles now hold a slight lead over the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East.

Next week is a must win for the Cowboys, or else Philadelphia may just coast to the division victory. Dallas has continued playing their .500 ball this season, and can’t afford to fall behind the Eagles in the division. The Cowboys currently own the tie breaker over the Eagles by defeating them in Week 7, but that won’t mean a thing unless Dallas is able to at least stay tied with Philadelphia.

The Cowboys better have taken this bye week to get their team in order, because if the Eagles can learn to win at home like they have been on the road, it may not even matter if Dallas wins next week because Philadelphia will easily win the division.

Even if both teams remain tied heading into their Week 17 battle, Tony Romo and the Cowboys better not assume their going to get a victory at home, because Nick Foles is far from the quarterback he was in their Week 7 matchup. Foles has been playing lights out lately, and isn’t the same QB who overthrew his receivers by 10 yards or more in their defeat earlier this season.

The NFC East has been a terrible division thus far this season. However, the competition between Dallas and Philadelphia for division lead will keep the division relevant for the rest of the season.